Brave New Voices

09/05/2017

Climate change is a cunning beast, laying low, giving us pause to again become complacent or dust off our denial. Then it happens, Texas suffers its 3rd Hurricane in a decade, the 5th since 2000 and by all estimates, Harvey, being the worst, characterized as a 1 in 1000 year event.

Now, as I write, another hurricane, "Irma" is bearing down on the Florida coast. Poised to hit the Caribbean islands first, with possible catastrophic damage occurring to Florida by Saturday - As Houston just begins to dry out and assess the damage and the Federal Government struggles to find the resources to begin rebuilding that city and helping its residents. Soon Florida may need the same assistance, putting a tremendous strain on our already unstable economy.

Today, I heard that London, England has been protected by a series of massive walls, called the Thames Embankment, to keep the River from inundating the city, as it did in 1928. They also realize, that by 2050 or so, it will need to be amended to adjust for the rising waters caused by climate change. How is it that we as individuals can deny a reality which compels entire cities and nations to spend billions.

Many other metropolitan areas are bracing or preparing for what they deem to be an inevitable threat that will devastate its coastal communities unless something is done. Even as our President chooses to deny the existence of wildly accepted science painting a doomsday scenario unless we all act to address the underlying causes of climate change.

It is daunting I know. The challenge is so massive it almost boggles the mind. But so was WWll and Polio and so many other cataclysms that threatened to challenge humanity's future. And yet, with collective action and the help of our government, we met and defeated these adversaries. Why is it we feel so apathetic in the face of this threat?

I think I have an answer and it strikes at the heart of what we as a nation, as a culture, have become. Lazy.

And I point not the finger only to others, but also to myself. I love the internal combustion engine in my car. Do I want to replace it with an electric vehicle that gets me where I'm going, for sure, but without the excitement of 6 cylinders exploding an air / fuel mixture inside a hermitically sealed chamber and sending the resulting energy to the back wheels via a series of gears turning inside a marvelous mechanism called a transmission? Electrons flowing down a wire and turning an electro-magnetic motor bores the heck out of me.

Would it in fact make some small contribution toward addressing our looming crisis, by keeping just a little carbon out of the air? Perhaps. It's complicated. Because the electricity I would use to charge that vehicle's batteries would have to be generated somehow. Depending on where you live, that electrical generation may be driven by solar panels, or also natural gas or even coal. Granted, when power is centrally generated and sent out via an infrastructure like an electrical grid, it is more efficient and less polluting then having that equivalent energy produced by an internal combustion engine burning gas. But is that enough to really make a difference? Maybe, if the shift was on a large enough scale.

Yet, consumers are tepid on electric vehicles. They accounted for barely 2% of auto sales in the last year that was analyzed. And as a result, the essential vehicle charging stations are not being built to support and serve that small demographic. And when they are put in, the ugly interference of capital interests rears its ugly head yet again: Different electric car manufacturers and different charging station interests are devising proprietary equipment to serve primarily "their" customers. So if you drive up in a Nissan Leaf for an example, you may not be able to charge from a station that was built for a Tesla or a Prius. This corporate-centered mentality will leave many EV owners stranded and they know it. So, what seemed like a good, socially progressive idea is once again corrupted by greed.

So what about Solar Panels; Composting your waste; Growing a garden to become less reliant on wasteful industrial farming; Planning your week to make fewer trips, or walking instead of driving, whenever possible; Turning off lights that aren't needed, Wearing warmer clothes rather than heating the house to a toasty 80 degrees.

Would these things make a difference? I'm not sure. And that is what sets this crisis apart from the others I mentioned: Nazis are an enemy you can see. Polio was clearly contagious and therefore, biological. But climate change is far more complicated and the truth is, we are all culpable in some way, shape or form, by continuing to remain in denial or presuming there is nothing we can do or worse: Knowing we can do something and still choosing not to.

It the book, he clearly describes the what Climate Change is and what's behind it. But rather than being a doom and gloom story, the information offers a ray of hope. That hope arises from the fact that what we have been doing seems to be having a positive effect: The concentration of heat-trappng gasses in our atmosphere has not risen for the last 3 years. Additionally, new technologies that are currently being developed promise to reduce our carbon footprint, rather than just reacting to it. And though I have not finished reading his compelling work, I do hope to discover ways that I can make a real difference in my own life, even as I remain firmly ensconced in my comfort zone.

Let me know your thoughts and what you and or your community are doing to address climate change

08/09/2017

You cannot go even one day without reading or hearing a news report related to our changing climate. The reason for this is that the ripples we have set in motion are building more rapidly than most imagined possible.

There were those who saw this day coming and tried to warn us, but most of us just figured the problem would get solved somehow. Well here we are and though there are positive movements in the works such as the Paris Climate Agreement, there are those in power who are seeking a political and or economic benefit to withdrawing the support of the United States of America in a global solution.

But we are fortunate to have Al Gore, who has been attempting to get our attention to the power of this building crisis at least since 2006, with the publishing of his first book: An Inconvenient Truth

Read on to learn more about the history of this movement and how you can now get involved and involve others in real and lasting change.

I recall reading "An Inconvenient Truth" Vice President Gore's first book on the climate crisis, when it came out in 2006.

For many, this may have been their first awareness of a mandate for environmental action But, many other prominent voices over the last two-hundred years have attempted to capture our attention to the inevitability of crisis we now face.

Notable among those were James Lovelock and his powerful series of Gaia books, "Gaia" being the ancient Greek word for Earth.

Long before that, the unlikely activist Rachel Carson shook the world into a renaissance of transcendental fervor with her brilliant work "Silent Spring".

Her thorough research and compelling message began a movement so strong, it resulted in the enactment of The Endangered Species Act, of 1973. Signed into law by a Republican, President Nixon.

I am proud to say that I have witnessed these courageous acts during my lifetime and in my own way, woven each leader's message into the fabric of my own life.

But never has a leader in the Environmental Movement taken on such a challenge as Mr. Gore.

Recruiting concerned citizens from all over the globe to be ambassadors advocating for our Planet's future, which of course is Humanity's future.

I am delighted to have an opportunity to join one of my heros in the field of science to truly bring this juggernaut of climate change to a halt.

There has never been a time more critical than now, but it will take the actions of every soul to reverse what has been indisputably created by our own hand.

The Earth and Humanity need a Health Plan, a new, powerful campaign for true and lasting change and a leader to take us there.

The time is now, the leader is the Nobel Laureate Al Gore and the vehicle is the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. Sign up today. Win the right to brag to your grandchildren that you were a change-maker, when it counted. The future is truly in our hands.

02/03/2017

When I think about how the world of writing has evolved, what most comes to mind is not the content: We've always had mysteries, thrillers, non-fiction and children's books, but rather the new tools and platforms now available to the writer.

Prominent among these is the advent of the Blog. Short for Web Log, the blog allows a writer to float an idea (a post) to a world audience and then gage the reaction. True, the post may just be a rant about politics or a social issue, but the opportunity for a writer, sitting in their easy chair to inform, enlighten or inspire someone across the globe in a matter of seconds by publishing a thought is a phenomenal transformation of the art.

As with any art, there are those who dabble, or who are striving to develop their voice and others who have been honing their skills for a while or have managed to lead the pack, right out of the gate.

There are so many talented writers in every imaginable genre to choose from, I cannot begin to compile an adequate list for every type of reader. So, as a patron and creator of Non-Fiction, Self Improvement content, I have focused on those qualities that I admire most and aspire to:

•Good visual impact•Well organized navigation•Ability to demystify complex ideas•Drawing conclusions rather than just posing questions•Focusing on content that can make a real difference in people's lives

Here are a list of my new favorites that inform and inspire me.

Click on each picture to be taken directly to the respective site.

A true voice of honesty in the struggle to overcome the damaging effects of a dysfunctional childhood. Well written and unabashedly authentic, anyone who is ready to admit they need help will find inspiration in Jeff's confessions and hopeful message:

"No one can ever take your sense of self and achievement away from you. For those of you who might feel lost right now, trust me on this: KEEP GOING. That’s the only reason I made it this far, to enjoying a peaceful and fulfilled life every single day. I have true inner peace now, but I’m also driven to take my success to the next levels, one by one, giving back as I go".

"Never forget where you came from and who helped you along the way".

– Jeff Emmerson

Corey Wayne has a No Nonsense approach to success in Relationships, Work and Life. He, himself is a success story, who like many of us, was lost and feeling hopeless, until the right teacher appeared in his life. By listening and applying what he learned, he began expanding and realizing his real potential and now is doing exactly what he loves. Something he never anticipated doing in those difficult early years:

"Having lots of money and material things is nice and I am grateful for all I have, but for me, teaching, coaching, and helping others be their best selves and achieve their dreams fulfills me like nothing else I have ever done.

Due to the success I have achieved and enjoyed it has enabled me to learn personally from the world’s top trainers and coaches. People like Tony Robbins (the world’s most successful and highest paid coach) and Keith Cunningham (the “Rich Dad” from Robert Kiyosaki’s NY Times Best Selling book “Rich Dad Poor Dad.”)

Unlike most of the other Life & Peak Performance Coaches you will find on the internet, I’ve actually done and experienced the things I teach others how to do. As a wise coach once taught me, before you can teach, you must know.

No matter where you are in your life right now, or what challenges you may have, I promise you, I have been there, done that, and got the t-shirt. The reason I can coach you to get the very best out of yourself is because I have learned over my 40 years on this planet how to get the best out of myself first. I’ve learned from the best teachers, and coaches in the world".

-Corey Wayne

The Social M's

Berlin based Jonathan Gebauer and Susanna Gebauer are committed to transforming the "Web 2.0" experience for the content creator and content consumer. In a world increasingly dominated by self-promoting quasi-entrepreneurs that offer nothing of value, Jonathan and Susanna provide a roadmap for how to stand out and succeed. How to been seen and heard over the din of useless noise:

"Content marketing is an essential way we do business within Web 2.0. Replacing spam, a bombardment of advertisement and self-promotion, is useful and high quality content. Companies that embrace a content marketing strategy focus on how to present their existing knowledge in a way that both captivates and helps their target group grow professionally".

-Jonathan Gebauer

As I often stress in my blog and book, the road to Sustainable Happiness requires us to discover and adopt new skills and disciplines that work to build our foundation from the inside out. Elements of that foundation include Physical Health, Emotional Health and yes, Financial Health. This is an area of expertise that Kyle, the author, has developed and now shares with her readers:

"I realized that my wandering through life with no direction financially probably wouldn’t cut it, so I changed my habits, pulled up my big boy pants and started in on a financial plan to change my future. This blog will chronicle my journey to financial freedom while destroying debt, earning my masters degree (cash flow!), and getting married along the way. I don’t claim to be any kind of expert (except on the topic of eating cheap!). My experience is what I will draw from and I want to use my skill as a teacher to inspire others to learn from my mistakes and go along with me on my journey to financial freedom. I will share tips, tricks, and strategies to live a debt free life and kick debt to the curb"

-Kyle

I think Noel would agree with this statement: Humanity is divided into three groups: Followers, Managers and Leaders. If you aspire to or have been placed in a position of directing others, whether in Sports, Manufacturing, Information Technology or Science, you must find your "Inner Leader" if you hope to be successful. It's not enough to just tell others what to do, you must inspire them to want to do it and do it well. Sometimes this ability is a talent, but more often than not, it is a learned skill that evolves into an art form. If you want to be better at leadership, you could not have a better ally than Noel:

"If you're only a 'Manager' you're not getting the best from your employees".

And here is why

-The manager administers; the leader innovates.- The manager is a copy; the leader is an original.- The manager maintains; the leader develops.- The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader focuses on people.- The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust.- The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.- The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.- The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader's eye is on the horizon.- The manager imitates; the leader originates.- The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.- The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.- The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.

-Noel Ferguson

As I alluded to earlier, there are many more platforms and opportunities for the writer to explore. But along with that, there are exponentially more challenges as well. Writers tend to be introverted, shy and humble. Not qualities that lend themselves to shameless self promotion. And yet, writers must learn to navigate Social Media platforms, how to write ads that boast about their content, and how to track the results of their efforts, so they can be fine tuned into a robust monetization machine. Unless, you just write for the fun and gratification of it (which is just fine), or you can afford to pay someone else to manage sales and promotion, you will have to get out of your comfort zone become "Chief cook and bottle washer" as we say. You'll have to do it all. And that can be a daunting task. Thankfully, there are experts like Kelly Santana-Banks, who can help you understand and navigate the dark, mysterious underbelly of literary success.

"The spark for writing ignited when studying and working in the field of early-childhood education. By there, I knew I wanted to author children’s books someday. A few years down the road, in a stroke of luck, I was invited to pursue reviews at Readers’ Favorite: Books Review and Award Contest, for which I became an official reviewer.

Later, as a content writer, I set up this blog, and I wanted to take advantage of my experiences and holistic educational philosophy to write reviews based on books while primarily focusing on the areas of business and education.

As the blog evolved so did my goals, and I felt the need to improve and follow the demands of readers while helping them along the way.

Now Reviews by The Banks has reshaped its identity and became a lifestyle review blog, focusing on educational, family/parenting, and entrepreneurial (writing & blogging) resources. Here, you will find critiques and interviews offering novel perspectives on those subjects".

-Kelly Santana-Banks

Dr. Amy occupies an unusual and indispensable niche in the world of Interpersonal Relations, she is an Industrial-Organizational Psychology Practitioner. While you may not be able to say all that in one breath, you will certainly be able to benefit from her sage advice if you work with difficult people. In fact that is the name of her book "Working With Difficult People" published by Penguin, Random House.

While she doesn't currently have a traditional blog, there are tons of useful resources on her Facebook and Twitter pages. Her Facebook introduction states:

[Dr Amy] helps employees and employers to get along better, and coaches leaders and employees to improve productivity, morale, satisfaction, and overall work-life balance. Her book, provides clear strategies to effectively handle the ten types of difficult bosses, colleagues, and subordinates.

I wish I had read this book, back when I had to work with that #@*&?!!_?^)(@# boss!

If you've enjoyed learning about these passionate innovators, let them know, by going to their Facebook or Twitter pages and liking them. Better yet let them know that you learned about them through www.happinesstree.org and that will help me, help you, with new, useful content to fuel your journey toward Sustainable Happiness.

Don't forget to visit and refer others to the "Life Modules" at www.happinesstree.org. You'll be glad you did. And so will I.

01/03/2017

A new series on Happiness Tree, where I share with you, the content I have discovered and learned from over the last week or so.

Please do enjoy and share with friends and followers.

MUSIC

Vidya Vox

My favorite new "World Music" artist is not available on CD or records, but has chosen to share her Mash Ups of her traditional Indian rhythms and poetry with Western fashion and choreography. The result is an art form that is at once visually delicious and musically irresistible.

Watch the video and then listen below to the recent interview with Vidya on NPR. I guarantee you'll be hooked, like me.

12/17/2016

A new series on Happiness Tree, where I share with you, the content I have discovered and learned from over the last week or so.

Please do enjoy and share with friends and followers.

If you have a recommendation for this series, please send it to me here.

HAPPINESS

The World Happiness Report 2016 Update, which ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, was released in Rome in advance of UN World Happiness Day, March 20th. The widespread interest in the World Happiness Reports, of which this is the fourth, reflects growing global interest in using happiness and subjective well-being as primary indicators of the quality of human development.

Carrie Heinze-MusgroveMA, LCP, LCPCOur relationships are quite possibly the single most important aspect of our lives. Healthy relationships are absolutely essential to leading a happy life. Imagine how much better your relationships and your life will be when you can communicate effectively and set boundaries. When you feel appreciated and no longer feel taken advantage of. I want to help you get there.

Angelo Karageogos - I am motivated by personal development and am mostly interested in applying humanity’s knowledge to my everyday life. I believe that this road leads us humans towards our most objective goal which is happiness.

Travel and Culture -Travels, experiences, cultures, traditions and food, happyness and fun; from local to international and from international to local.https://twitter.com/Travelscultures

Again, if you have any suggestions for new voices in the fields of Happiness, Culture, Cooking, Travel, Relationships or any other subject that enhances the "Human Experience", please pass it along HERE

Random Samples to Get You Started

Rare Books, Gifts & Collectibles at Amazing Prices

_________________________
What is The Happiness Tree?

This blog and its companion
book are a direct challenge to the preconceived notions,
fears, biases and flawed approaches that hold many of us back from
success in relationships, work, creativity and most importantly, life
satisfaction.

Like many of you, from my
adolescent years, I was seeking guidance to
help me understand the complex interplay between myself and the world
at large: A sort of “Life Manual”. I would peruse book stores and act
on recommendations by friends and respected “gurus”, and never found a
book, program or methodology that connected all the dots.

I’d read one book about
Spirituality, and another about Self Esteem.
Yet another about The Creative Process followed by a treatise on
Relationships. Each book seemed to partially address one piece of the
puzzle, but not how that element fit into or coordinated with all the
others.
Then at a dark, pivotal point in my mid-life, I felt the need for just
such a paradigm shift. A complete overhaul of my belief systems and a
new scaffolding upon which to construct my future. I was sure that in
the new frontier of the internet, I’d be able to find just the right
message, delivered just the right way that would provide me that “Aha
moment” I so desperately desired. But alas, I found only bits and
pieces, not a cohesive, holistic approach to creating sustainable
happiness.

So, I built
it myself.

One of the pearls of wisdom
that stuck with me during my many years of
searching, was that ‘all the tools and information we need to create a
productive, happy life, are already inside of us’. This made sense to
me. Though not a religious person, I have always believed that we were
brought
into this life to fulfill a purpose. And if that was so, then it would
stand to reason that we’d be provided the skills necessary to manifest
that purpose or at least the means to acquire them. From that
perspective, our challenge then, from the moment we’re born, (or some
would say, even before that), is to discover our mission, then develop
the energy, passion and abilities to fulfill it.

Along the way though, most of
us get bogged down in the details. To use
a driving metaphor, we head off perhaps in the right direction and then
hit a pothole. Our vehicle becomes temporarily disabled and so we hitch
a ride and become a passenger on someone else’s journey. Through
detours and switchbacks, we may
spend years retracing our steps in an effort
to regain the momentum of those earlier times. Along the way,
circumstance or destiny places what feels like insurmountable barriers
in our path,
causing us to rethink our entire rai·son d'ê·tre.

This is usually when the pivot
happens. When our belief systems
collapse, leaving us feeling incapable of addressing even the simplest
task, for lack of confidence in our own abilities or the very
righteousness of humanity. I built The Happiness Tree for this critical
juncture in my own life and by extension, to help you through yours.

This system is named The
Happiness Tree, for a reason. By following its
intuitive structure: Roots; Trunk; Limbs and Branches, we begin to
organize the seemingly complex interplay between ourselves and others,
into a visual framework, allowing us to step back for the first time
and see the entire global connections that make up our lives. From this
vantage point, areas that are weak or unbalanced are revealed. We are
then guided toward achieving a broader and more effective
distribution of our time, energy, talents, passions and goals through
the implementation of practical, common sense strategies. Branch, by
branch we begin to fill out our own unique tree, from top to bottom,
enhancing our confidence, relationships, creativity, purpose and
ultimately, our life satisfaction and happiness.

Let "The
Happiness Tree" support you on your quest to achieve the life
you’ve always dreamed of. Just read, absorb, practice. evolve and
become the manifestation of Joy in your own life and that of those you
love.